A postpartum doula “mothers the mother,” helping her to navigate the first days, weeks or months after a new baby arrives.  My goal and hope as a certified postpartum doula and lactation consultant is to show the new mother that her own mothering instincts work and that she is exactly the right mother for her baby. I do this by giving her the emotional, practical and informational support that she needs to allow her to focus on her relationship with her newborn.   I help the mother to develop and trust her intuition about what her baby needs and gain confidence in reading her baby’s cues within the context of her own parenting philosophy and style.  My goal is not to take over mothering, but to nurture the family and foster their success in parenting in a non-judgmental manner. I try to take the new mother out of her isolation, encourage her to let go of books and peer pressure, and listen to her heart and her baby. It's all there.

 I am certified as a postpartum doula through CAPPA.

A lactation consultant is trained to assist with breastfeeding.  I am an expert on a wide variety of breastfeeding issues.  I provide information and support to help prevent common problems and to manage issues that come up.  I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

The needs of the new mother can change from day to day and may be different for every woman.  I provide individualized care that may include any or all of the following services:

• making sure the new mother is fed, well hydrated and comfortable
• teaching siblings and partners how to nurture the mother and the baby
• resolving pain with breastfeeding
• sharing strategies to calm fussy babies
• caring for the baby while the mother/ family takes a much-needed nap
• teaching a mini-workshop on newborn bathing, diapering techniques, and the super-swaddle
• helping the mother to develop feeding & sleeping strategies
• cooking, doing light housework, running errands for the family
• assessing for postpartum mood disorders and referring the mother to support groups or clinical resources